2b — 



Calabrian speculators were compelled to become gradually less exacting, 

 although the prospects of the coming harvest were by no means 

 favourable. 



The total oil -harvest of last year may, as a matter of fact, be 

 estimated at about iooooo kilos, of which at the moment of writing 

 perhaps 8000 or 10 000 kilos are still in the country; but the esti- 

 mates of the coming harvest come only to about 40000 to 50000 kilos, 

 provided the fruit gives a normal yield of oil. Under these conditions 

 a higher basis of prices than last year is to be expected from the outset 

 for the coming oil-producing season. 



Lemon Oil. The lowest level of the prices of lemon oil (4 marks) 

 ever attained, which was reached in March, w r as followed in May by 

 a sharp movement upwards, bringing the quotations in a comparatively 

 short time up to 5,25 marks per kilo. 



This was brought about by very important purchases made here 

 by order and on account of American firms. But the exaggerated 

 demands of the proprietors, who would have been happy to avail 

 themselves of this opportunity for recovering their previous losses, was 

 followed by the usual reaction. When the first excitement was over, 

 all purchasers who were not absolutely compelled to buy immediately, 

 withdrew from the market, and very soon afterwards the prices began 

 again to give way. At the same time, the movement had sufficed 

 to remove the prices of this article for the current year definitely 

 from the unsound level at which the manufacturers lost money, and 

 to place them on a better and a more permanent basis. The above- 

 mentioned weakening of. the prices proceeded slowly, and when 4,50 marks 

 had been reached they remained for a long time at that level, and 

 only advanced again during the last few weeks when the available 

 stocks of lemon oil had dwindled to about 25000 kilos; at the same 

 time last year they were estimated at about 40000 kilos. 



It seems safe to assume that these small stocks will have been 

 used up by the time the new oil arrives, and that at the turn of the 

 year there will be no stock worth mentioning. 



With regard to the new crop, no exact estimates are as yet possible; 

 on the whole it is expected that the result of the harvest will be about 

 one-fifth below that of last year. 



In a work entitled "La nuova adulterazione dell' essenza 

 di limone" 1 ), Berte, with the help of very voluminous examination- 

 material, discusses the adulteration of lemon oil, with special regard 

 to the adulteration with lemon oil terpenes, which has increased 

 very considerably during the last few years in consequence of the 



x ) Estratto dal "Bolletino chimico-farmaceutico" No. 10, May 1904. 



